Aaron Rodgers is a complicated guy. You can’t talk about modern football history without talking about him, but these days, the conversation usually shifts from "back-shoulder fades" to "ayahuasca retreats" or "vaccine drama" within about thirty seconds. He is one of the most gifted athletes to ever touch a pigskin.
Yet, for a lot of fans, the highlights are starting to get buried under a mountain of headlines.
Honestly, the shift happened fast. One minute he was the Jeopardy-hosting, Super Bowl-winning hero of Green Bay, and the next, he was the guy telling the world he was "immunized" while basically winking at the camera. Since then, the floodgates have stayed open. From his move to the Jets and later the Pittsburgh Steelers, to his constant presence on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers has become as much a cultural lightning rod as a quarterback.
The "Immunized" Moment and the Trust Gap
If you want to pinpoint exactly where the Aaron Rodgers controversies really took off, you have to go back to August 2021. It was a simple question: "Are you vaccinated?" Rodgers didn't say yes or no. He said, "Yeah, I've been immunized."
Most people took that as a "yes." Why wouldn't they?
But when he tested positive later that season, the truth came out. He hadn't taken any of the NFL-approved vaccines. Instead, he had undergone a homeopathic treatment protocol. The backlash was massive. It wasn't just about the medical choice; it was about the wordplay. Critics felt he’d intentionally misled his teammates and the public.
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In the 2024 biography Out of the Darkness, written by Ian O’Connor, Rodgers admitted he regretted how that went down. He basically said if he could do it over, he would’ve just told everyone he was allergic to an ingredient (PEG) and moved on. But the damage to his public image was done. People stopped seeing him as just a football player and started seeing him as a contrarian.
Conspiracies and the Sandy Hook "Inside Job" Reports
Things got much heavier in 2024. A report from CNN alleged that in private conversations—some dating back to 2013—Rodgers had questioned the reality of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
The report claimed he told a journalist that the tragedy was a "government inside job."
Rodgers eventually pushed back. He released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) saying he has never been of the opinion that the events didn't take place. He called it an "absolute tragedy." Still, for many, it was another log on the fire of his reputation as a "conspiracy theorist."
He’s been linked to 9/11 "truther" theories too. Former teammate DeShone Kizer once claimed on a podcast that the first thing Rodgers asked him in a meeting was, "Do you believe in 9/11?" Rodgers has a habit of "asking questions" that lean into fringe territory, and while he says he’s just a curious guy, the public usually sees it as something more intentional.
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The Jimmy Kimmel Feud and the Epstein List
You’ve probably seen the clips of Rodgers on The Pat McAfee Show. It's basically his pulpit. In early 2024, he used that platform to take a shot at late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Rodgers suggested Kimmel was one of the people who should be nervous about the release of the Jeffrey Epstein "client list."
Kimmel didn't take it lightly.
He threatened legal action. He called Rodgers a "hamster-brained man." He pointed out that reckless accusations like that put his family in danger. Rodgers later tried to walk it back, saying he wasn't actually calling Kimmel a pedophile, but he stopped short of a real apology.
Fast forward to late 2025, and this feud actually resurfaced when ABC suspended Kimmel’s show over unrelated comments. It felt like a bizarre full-circle moment for a rivalry that started because Kimmel made fun of Rodgers' hair and vaccine status years prior.
Darkness Retreats and Ayahuasca: A Search for Meaning
Not all his controversies are about feuds or politics. Some are just... weird. Or "enlightened," depending on who you ask.
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- The Darkness Retreat: In 2023, before deciding to leave Green Bay, Rodgers spent four days in total darkness in an underground room in Oregon. No light. No phone. Just him and his thoughts.
- Ayahuasca: He’s been very open about using the plant-based psychedelic in Peru. He credits it with helping him win back-to-back MVPs and finding "unconditional self-love."
- The 2025 "Secret" Marriage: Just when people thought they had him figured out, Rodgers revealed at Steelers training camp in 2025 that he’d quietly gotten married to a woman named Brittani. He’s been fiercely protective of her identity, telling reporters the public's "entitlement" to his personal life is ridiculous.
Why the Jets Finally Let Him Go
The Jets era was supposed to be a Hollywood ending. It turned into a mess. Between the Achilles injury, a losing season in 2024, and the constant media "circus" surrounding his McAfee appearances, the New York front office eventually had enough.
Reports from early 2025 suggested the Jets actually tried to ban him from The Pat McAfee Show as a condition for him staying.
Rodgers didn't bite. He ended up with the Steelers, where he's continued to play at a high level while keeping his circle tighter than ever. It’s clear that for Rodgers, his "voice" and his "process" are just as important as the Lombardi Trophy.
How to Navigate the "Rodgers Era" as a Fan
If you're still following his career, you basically have to separate the art from the artist. Here's how to handle the noise:
- Check the Source: Because Rodgers is so polarizing, "reports" about him often get blown out of proportion. Always look for his actual quotes versus "anonymous sources."
- Focus on the Documentary: If you want his side of the story, the Netflix doc Aaron Rodgers: Enigma (2024) is the closest you’ll get to his unfiltered perspective.
- Appreciate the Longevity: Whether you like his politics or not, what he's doing on the field at 40-plus years old is historically insane.
Rodgers is never going to be the quiet, "aw-shucks" quarterback the NFL wants him to be. He’s going to keep talking, keep questioning, and keep making things uncomfortable for everyone from commissioners to comedians. That's just the package deal.
To stay updated on his current season performance and any new developments regarding his off-field ventures, keep a close eye on the weekly injury reports and his Tuesday afternoon media appearances, which remain the most direct way to hear his perspective without the media filter.